US2543600A

US2543600A - Deck lid hinge

Info

Publication number: US2543600A
Application number: US556318A
Authority: US
Inventors: John H Roethel
Original assignee: ROETHEL ENGINEERING CORP
Current assignee: ROETHEL ENGINEERING Corp
Priority date: 1944-09-29
Filing date: 1944-09-29
Publication date: 1951-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-27

Description

Feb. 27, 1951 J. H. RoETHEL 2,543,600

DECK LID HINGE Filed Sept. 29, 1944 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 DECK LID HINGE John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eoethel Engineering V Corporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 29, 1944, Serial No. 556,318

Claims.

This invention relates to hinges for swinging lids or closures and is especially useful in connection with swinging doors or lids of automobiles or vehicle bodies, such as deck, trunk and hood lids thereof. I

An object of the invention is to provide a hinge for an upwardly swinging closure or lid which is provided with improved relatively simple, efficient and economical spring controlled means for holding the lid or closure in a raised position, such means being operated simply by manipulating the lid in raising and lowering the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for a swinging closure or lid having improved counterbalancing spring means constructed to exert immaterial closing effort on the lid at its closed position but effective to exert substantial effort or force on the lid so as to assist in raising and holding it in raised position.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction of the hinge structure so that it will be very compact and occupy a minimum of space, strong and durable and at the same time easy to manufacture, this latter being due in part to the improved relation of the parts permitting Simplicity in assembly operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved spring controlled hinge structure in which the counterbalancing spring or springs may be easily replaced or changed or the number thereof varied without affecting the operation of the device.

Other objects of this invention Will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificationwherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of an automobile body illustrating a deck lid or closure hinged to the body by means of hinge devices constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the hinge devices.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3--3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hinge devices showing in full lines the position of the parts when the deck lid is in raised position.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings. since the 2 invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, by way of example, the hinge device or structure is applied to an automobile body A Which has a rear metal panel B forming a sloping deck, trunk or other compartment provided with an opening C into the compartment Which is adapted to be closed by means of a swinging lid or closure member 9. In the present instance the deck lid is supported on the body by means of two laterally spaced khinge devices or structures which are identical in construction as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive. A description of one of these hinge devices will, therefore, sufiice and it will be noted that the construction of the hinge devices is such that they occupy a, minimum of space Within the deck compartment thereby reducing interference With articles stored within the compartment.

The hinge structure of the illustrated embodiment comprises a support D adapted to be secured in xed position to the body within the roof or upper portion of the deck lid compartment forwardly of the upper edge of the opening C. The hinge device also comprises a swinging hinge member or structure E hinged to the stationary support D and secured rigidly at its outer end to the underside of the deck lid 9.

' The stationary support D is formed from two metal angle members ID and ll arranged with their upper flanges in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 3, and with their depending flanges Illa and Ha arranged face to face and spot Welded together. The upper fiange portions IG, ll of the support are provided with suitable holes 2 to receive screws by means of which the support D may be rigidly secured to the body against the roof of the compartment C. The hinge member E comprises a pair of channels [3 and [4 having their central webs positioned face to face and spot welded together with the opposite flanges of the channels positioned in the same plane. The channel members |3 and M terminate in widened coplanar portions I3a and Ma which are provided with holes 55 to receive screws by means of which the hinge member may be rigidly secured to the underside of the deck lid 9 at the upper edge thereof. The abutting channel members 13 and M are formed into substantially-a gooseneck in order to embrace the upper edge of the deck lid opening. This construction permits sufiicient clearance for the swinging motion of the hinge members E while at the same time causing them to project as little as possible into the deck lid opening. The channel members |3 and [4 near their inner ends are spaced apart at IB to receive and embrace the downwardly projecting portions lUb and Hb of the stationary support D. These portions are continuations of the fianges illa and Ha of the support, and where they project downwardly so as to extend between the spaced ends of the channel members 13 and |4 the top flanges I il and l of the support are cut away or removed. The overlapping portions of the channel members [3 and M and the extensions IlJb, Hb of the support are hinged or pivoted together through the medium of a transverse hinge pin IT.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the inner spaced apart ends of the channel members IS and 4 are provided with upwardly and rearwardly extending portions IB, each carrying a laterally projecting anchor pin or stud IS riveted thereto and to each of which the rear end of a coil tension spring is connected. A pair of these springs are shown in the present embodiment each having its rear end hooked over one of the pins or studs 19 and having its forward end hooked at 2| through a hole in a lateral projection 22 integral with one of the flanges Ina and Ha of the support. The anchoring means for the forward end of each spring 20 may be'otherwise than in the form of an integral projection 22 extending from the fiange of the supporting member, such as an angle piece secured thereto or a laterally projecting stud or pin.

It will be noted that the coil tension springs 20 are disposed directly beneath the top fianges of the supporting member D and extend longitudinally at opposite sides of the flanges I Oa and Ha in a direction substantially parallel thereto. This provides a very compact structure with the springs ocoupying but little lateral space greater than that occupied by the stationary support. Moreover, it is important to note that this construction permits the use either of a single tension spring 20 for use in connection with a relatively light deck lid or two tension springs, as illustrated in the drawings, for use in connection with heavier lids. Since the `springs are arranged very close to the center of the support and the pivot ll and the direction of the force exerted by the springs is at all times in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of operation of the hinge arm, it will be seen that one or two springs may be used to equal advantage, depending upon the weight of the lid, without interfering with the proper operation of the device.-

It will'be understood that the tension springs 25 will be selected so as to have the proper size and strength to accommodate the weight of the lid, the springs when assembled being prestressed or pre-loaded so that they will substantially balance the weight of the lid. The fully closed position of the lid is shown in dotted lines and the fully open or raised position is shown in full lines in Fig. 4. In the preferred construction the springs do not pass beyond the dead center position, i. e. an imaginary line passing through the end connections [9 and 2| of the spring does not pass below the axis of swinging of the hinge member at I l. However, in the down or closed position of the lid the central longitudinal axis of the spring approaches very close to but slightly above the hinge axis H and, hence, in this position the spring, although stressed to its greatest extent, exerts no appreciable lifting effort on the lid. In other words, when the lid is closed' the springs, although stressed to their greatest extent, exert no appreciable turning effort on the lid either in the upward direction or in the downward direction. This has the desirable effect of enabling the lid to remain closed under its own weight and preventing the springs from transmitting any appreciable force on the looking means for the lid.

When the lid is in closed position it will be seen that the angular extensions I8 of the channel members |3 and I4, to the outer ends of which the springs are connected at l9, extend rearwardly substantially in horizontal positions. As the lidis raised these extensions l8 swing upwardly and forwardly toward the vertical and the effort of the springs during this movement becomes progressively effective in assisting in raising the lid. Thus, when the lid is fully raised the angular extensions IB will reach positions providing the most effective lever arms and the springs 20 will fully counterbalance the weight of the lid and cause it to remain in raised position. Since the extensions or lever arms |8 swing to the dotted line position of Fig.V 4 in which the tension springs are nearly in l'ne therewith it will be apparent that at this time in the closed position of the lid the springs will exert no appreciable turning effort on the lever-arms. It will be noted that the lever arms l8 not only swing upwardly and downwardly in the region between the pivotal axis H and the deck lid but also in the space between the outer end of the support and the upper edge of the deck opening. Thus, these parts are mainly ccncealed and out of the way and Will not project into the compartment to interfere with contents stored therein.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised or lowered to open and close an opening, ccmprising a support adapted' to be located within a compartment and connected to a wall thereof, a hinge member adapted to be rigidly secured to a lid for said compartment, means for hinging said member to the support to swing up and down about a transverse axis, said memberl having an arm portion rigid therewith extending. angularly and outwardly from said axis in the direction of said opening when the lid is in closed position, a tension spring connected at one end to said arm portion out- Wardly of the hinge axis and connected at its opposite end to the support at a distance from said axis with the connected ends of the spring disposed at opposite sides of said axis, said arm portion adapted to swing toward and from a generally vertical position as the lid is raised and lowered.

2. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised or lowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a support generally T-shaped in cross section having a top portion adapted to be secured to the body within the compartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member adapted to be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a bifurcated inner end embracing said leg portion and pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, said hinge member having its inner end beyond said axis forming a lever arm swingable in the region between said axis and lid, and

a tension springconnecting said lever arm and support and extending in a vertical plane substantially parallel to the vertical plane of movement of said hinge member. A

3. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised or lowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a support having a top portion adapted to be secured to the body within the compartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member adapted to be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a bifurcated inner end embracing said leg portion and pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, said hinge member having its inner end beyond said axis forming a lever arm swingable in the region between said axis and lid, and a tension spring connecting said lever arm and support and extending along one side of said leg portion substantially parallel the-reto. V

4. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised or lowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a support having a top portion adapted to be secured to the body within the compartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member` adapted to be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a bifurcated inner end embracing said leg portion and pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, said hinge member having its inner end beyond said axis forming a lever arm swingable in the region between said axis and lid, and a tension spring connecting said lever arm and support at points located at opposite sides of said axis and extending along one side of said leg portion.

5. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised or lowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a support having a top portion adapted to be secured to the body Within the compartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member adapted to be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a pivotal connection with the outer end of said depending leg portion within the compartment so as to swing about its transverse axis, said hinge member having al lever arm swingable in the region between said axis and lid, and coiled tension spring means connected to the lever arm and the inner end of the support to counterbalance the weight of said swinging lid While being raised or lowered to open or close said compartment opening, said pivotal connection lying between the connected ends of the spring means when the lid is closed. V

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,919 Hall June 6, 1922 1,537,379 Scott May 12, 1925 1,610,461 Marshall Dec. 14, 1926 2,185,214 Claud-Mantle Jan. 2, 1940 2,229,315 Sullivan Jan. 21, 1941 2,259,970 Benzick Oct. 21, 1941 4 2,279,992 Jackson et al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,317,892 De Orlow Apr. 2'7, 1943* 2,320,752 Roethel June 1, 1943 2,341,847 Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 2,353,175 Marple July 11, 1944